Real Thanks

Let them sacrifice thank offerings and tell of his works with songs of joy.
— Psalm 107:22

The
psalms are real about life. They don’t ignore or downplay life’s
struggles and fears. That’s one reason why they are such a treasure
for many people.

Psalm
107 address several difficulties faced by mortals in this world:
being lost, imprisoned, afflicted with disease, and tossed about by a
storm. Today the experience of being lost may include trying to find
our way amid the myriad choices and complexities of our world. Being
imprisoned for rebelling against God may include our addictions to
various sins, comforts, conveniences, and social media. Our
illnesses, storms, and other troubles may have different names and
contexts today, but if they result from ignoring or defying God, the
need for God’s forgiveness and help still resonates in our hearts
and souls. We cry out in our need, and God guides, frees, heals,
calms the storm, and in a multitude of other ways blesses his people.
Trouble does not have the final word.

So
we give thanks to God for all he has done, and we name and bear
witness to the ways we’ve been rescued from trouble. Looking ahead
toward worship in the next couple of days, we know that throughout
the world, God’s people will gather and give thanks together.

May
you have the opportunity to do that as well, in body or in spirit,
and to share with others each day about God’s wonderful works!

Prayer

Gracious God, we thank you for rescuing us in times of trouble. Enable us to tell of your works with grateful hearts. In Christ we pray. Amen.